We continue with the Fallout series summaries with episode 1×06; The Trap. The following contains spoilers for the episode and the series.
The chapter begins with Vault 4 advertisements. We understand from the ads that Vault 4 is to be run by scientists researching the effects of radiation on human DNA. At the end of the ad, a phone number 213-25-Vault (a number in Los Angeles) is shown. When you call it, you hear a man’s scream in Cooper’s own voice. Additionally, those who text this number receive an automatically answered customized message. If you accept the terms, you get a second message and a personalized card with the Fallout logo on it. If I were in America, I would try it.
During the party, as Cooper descends the stairs, we see a movie poster titled “A Man and His Dog.” This is a reference to the film “A Boy and His Dog,” which tells the story of a young man and his telepathic dog wandering through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The design of the poster is a nod to the first Mad Max (1979) film. As the party continues, we see Cooper heading towards his friend Sebas, learning that he sold his voice for Codsworth (Mr. Handy) robots very cheaply. In this scene, they use a tone similar to the one in the game (normally voiced by Stephen Russell, who also voices Nick Valentine).
From the first scenes inside Vault 4, we see physical oddities hinting at the bizarre experiments that might be happening. Lucy, who has not experienced any physical changes in the Vault, finds this environment extremely odd, while Maximus, who lives on the surface, is relatively calmer.
During Cooper’s conversations with his wife, certain sentences stand out. Cooper’s wife mentions having a guaranteed spot in one of the good Vaults. This reveals that she knew the Vaults were for experiments and chose a Vault for her family. For her to do this, she must be in a very good position. Cooper starts questioning his wife’s thoughts and Vault-Tec, influenced by these dialogues and his friend’s guidance at the bar. The war referenced in the bar scene as “fighting pointlessly in the north” is the defense of Alaska mentioned in my first write-up.
Back in Vault 4, we learn that many people from the surface were accepted. This is not a common occurrence in Vaults, suggesting it was a decision made for experimental candidates. They show the audience that fusion cores are used not only for power armor but for various purposes, including the Vault’s power system (also used similarly in the games). We see Maximus, who experiences hot water and good food for the first time in his life, becoming enthralled. He realizes how lucky and happy the people inside the Vault could be (welcome, new lab rat).
Inside Vault 4, we see loyalty to the NCR through flags in classrooms and information about Shady Sands on the board. Looking at the timeline in pieces:
- 2142: The founding of Shady Sands. This aligns with Fallout Bible and Fallout 1. We visit it in 2161 in Fallout 1.
- 2189: The founding of the NCR. This aligns with Fallout Bible and the New Vegas Official Game Guide. It was formed as a provisional council government in 2186 and became a federation of five states (Shady Sands, Los Angeles, Maxson, The Hub, and Dayglow) in 2189.
- 2198: Shady Sands becomes the capital of the NCR.
- 2241: The NCR becomes a major economic and political power in California.
- 2277: The fall of Shady Sands. This gets complicated because the series (set in 2296) takes place after Fallout New Vegas (2281). If the fall refers to a bomb, there’s a mistake since we know from New Vegas that there were no issues with NCR or Shady Sands in 2281. If it’s a different event, it might make sense if explained later. The drawing also seems to show bombs later.
During this scene, they played the Fallout 4 intro music, delighting game fans.
In the newly established government scene, the wanted posters were the first thing that caught my attention. There are a few humans, one mutant, two ghouls, and one child. Besides spelling errors by the sheriff and deputy, they also make speech errors in the scenes. The so-called government leader, Sorrell Booker (likely a reference to actor Sorrell Booke, resembling his weight and smoking habit), appears to have a history with a ghoul. I have two theories:
- He might be a former NCR member trying to establish his own order as NCR loses power in the region.
- Referring to the ghoul’s daughter or wife, he might know Cooper from the pre-war era, indicating a long-standing relationship. Normally, only ghouls and mutants live that long, but the cryogenic freezing technology (long-term cryogenic suspended animation) from Vault-Tec allows for the possibility of living that long.
The knife he holds while eating resembles the combat knife from Fallout games.
The car Cooper used in the past resembles the 1954 Kaiser Darrin model 161. They chose a truly magnificent vehicle.
During the ritual scene inside Vault 4, things take a drastic turn (Fallout-style dark humor). We see Vault 4 immigrants taking a kind of revenge oath. There might be some action in future seasons. The ironic situations of Lucy, whose opinions about the Vault change negatively, and Maximus, whose opinions change positively, are well depicted.
When he reaches the forbidden 12th floor, using the Pip-Boy’s light is very similar to the game. A different gulper (giant salamander) confronts us on this floor. From the experiments he observes, we understand that scientists in this Vault have managed to breed humans with creatures genetically altered by radiation without ethical concerns. We see more in the cryo-stasis pods, which references Fallout 4.